Time Hardly Stands Still For Alicia SilverstoneAlicia Silverstone, the Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actress known primarily for her film work ("
Clueless"), recently concluded her much-praised sophomore effort on Broadway as part of the acclaimed production of
Time Stands Still. It was such a marked departure from her 2002 performance in
The Graduate -- which, for the record, I actually enjoyed -- that there's even talk in some circles about Ms. Silverstone's chances for a Tony nomination, although we never broached that possibility with her.
Last Friday, I joined with fellow theatre bloggers Patrick Lee (
Just Shows To Go You) and Kevin Daly (
Theatre Aficionado At Large) by way of the
Independent Theater Bloggers Association (ITBA) in a half hour telephone conversation with Ms. Silverstone. I asked her, "What did you take away from your Broadway debut that has informed your stage work since?"
Alicia Silverstone replied:
I had only done one play before that (Carol's Eve, 1993).
(In The Graduate) I learned a lot from Kathleen Turner, who is awesome. She came to see me in Time Stands Still and was so proud of me.
She took me under her wing and treated me with so much respect from the moment we started working on The Graduate. I remember when we were in Baltimore, before we came to Broadway, and after the first night she said to me, “That was really good, darling, but tomorrow maybe you will have your voice down about four notches.” I was screaming. I guess I was so excited and nervous that my voice got very high.
After originating the role of
Time Stands Still's Mandy Bloom last year at Los Angeles'
Geffen Playhouse, Ms. Silverstone was the only prinicipal to stay with the play through Broadway. Nevertheless, she said of the latter experience, "I came humbly to the rehearsal room. It was so electrifying that I didn't want to leave (even) to go to the bathroom.
Laura Linney became like a big sister to me."
Telling us, "Theatre people are the best," it's no wonder this actress with an infectiously sunny disposition is already contemplating her next stage outing. Although currently filming "
Butter" with
Hugh Jackman,
Rob Corddry and
Jennifer Garner, Ms. Silverstone somewhat wistfully told us her dream would be to do a production of
Romeo And Juliet. But she said that after seeing
Janet McTeer perform in
A Doll's House, she'd really love a chance to tackle the role of Norma Helmer.
Just don't expect her to do a musical any time soon; she says, "I'm not a trained singer. I'm interested in it but I've never practiced singing."
To read another take on our interview, please visit
Just Shows To Go You.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. Labels: A Doll's House, Alicia Silverstone, Broadway, Hugh Jackman, Interview, Janet McTeer, Kathleen Turner, Laura Linney, Play, The Graduate, Time Stands Still
FourOver the past week, I've enjoyed four milestones, not only as a theatre blogger, but also as a theatre lover.
On the first score, Saturday found me "celebrating" the fourth anniversary for
Steve On Broadway (SOB). The day was spent doing one of the things I love to do most: seeing a show. In fact, I was in the audience for two markedly different Great White Way productions (
Red and
Come Fly Away).
But I also observed my anniversary day enjoying the cameraderie of fellow bloggers/friends Patrick Lee (
Just Shows To Go You), Linda Buchwald (
Pataphysical Science), Leonard Jacobs (
The Clyde Fitch Report) and Andrew and Phil (
West End Whingers), along with non-blogging friends Bill and Ken and new friend
Baz Bamigboye.
(And all of that came on the heels of wine and/or coffee-infused moments of pleasure earlier in the week with Roger Calderon (
Daddycatcher's Realm), Kevin Daly (
Theatre Aficionado At Large), Kari Geltemeyer (
lit-wit), Jonathan Mandel (
New York Theater), Sarah Roberts (
Adventures In The Endless Pursuit Of Entertainment), Gabriel Shanks (
Modern Fabulousity) and last but certainly by no means least Jan Simpson (
Broadway & Me). It was a week to savor, and is serving to inspire me to write yet again.)
My second milestone hit last Wednesday. Doing what I always do after each Rialto performance, I dutifully logged the Broadway shows I had seen that day into my ever-expanding list, only to discover that my Wednesday matinee of
Million Dollar Quartet marked the 200th time I had set foot in a Broadway theatre for a show. (Since I've been known to revisit some of my favorite plays and musicals, this was not my 200th
production -- it was only my 184th.) I'm not sure how that compares with your theatregoing habits, but over my span of nearly 25 years attending Main Stem performances, I think the folks at the
Broadway League and the
American Theatre Wing would likely deem my attendance above average, and since the inception of Steve On Broadway (SOB), my near perfect attendance would be way above average. Given that I
still pay for every ticket, it also means I've plunked down a tidy sum through the years. But I don't regret a single penny.
My third milestone occurred just yesterday when I took in the evening performance of
Everyday Rapture at the
American Airlines Theatre. In seeing
Sherie Renee Scott's semi-autobiographical musical, I now lay claim to having seen each and every one of the 38 new shows that opened on Broadway during the 2009-10 Theatrical Season. That string includes such short-lived productions as
Brighton Beach Memoirs,
The Miracle Worker,
All About Me and
Looped.
Finally, my fourth milestone is one that's served as further inspiration for writing Steve On Broadway (SOB) yet again. I was proud to be among three theatre bloggers participating in a Q&A with Alicia Silverstone, who was recently on Broadway in
Time Stands Still. Having the opportunity to pose questions to this underestimated actress marked my first time formally interviewing any thespian. I'm hoping it won't be my last. (I'll write more in the days to come on our conversation with Silverstone, but in the meantime, here's
another post from one of my blogger colleagues.)
So for the one or two readers who are still out there, thanks for returning to Steve On Broadway (SOB) and sharing in my four milestones with me. It's great to be back.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Alicia Silverstone, Anniversary, Friendships, Interview, Milestone, Special Messages
Time Stands Still (The SOB Review) - Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York City, New York
***1/2 (out of ****)
All is fair in love and war, so the saying goes. And when the two converge, it’s a common assumption that the bonds forged are for life. They may be among the most impenetrable.
In
Donald Margulies' superb and gut-wrenching new play
Time Stands Still, the playwright thoughtfully examines the ravages of conflict and the impact of finding love among the ruins.
Sarah (
Laura Linney in a remarkably shattering performance) is an injured photojournalist returning home from the war in Iraq to a life and boyfriend James (an excellent
Brian d'Arcy James) that have become utterly disconnected. She even has difficulty reconnecting with her editor Richard (a fantastic
Eric Begosian), especially now that he's seeing Mandy (
Alicia Silverstone, a stunning revelation here), a blonde beauty half his age, and at first glance with an IQ to match.
But it's Mandy who challenges Sarah's ethics for not stepping in and helping those dying subjects of her war photography, placing our photojournalist on the defensive. Sarah soon finds the need to defend herself on yet another front, which threatens to completely undermine her relationship with James.
Margulies' first act is beyond extraordinary. It's particularly brilliant for its seamless blend of how life goes on in the United States in spite of our wars abroad along with the realities and cost of those military endeavors. The ultimate impact on Sarah and James is both harrowing and heartbreaking.
If the second act isn't quite the equal of the first, it's because Margulies initiates it by trying to infuse self-deprecating humor at his very own work, essentially telling the audience with a big wink and inappropriate smile that we shouldn't take plays like this too seriously. While it weakens the overall impact of the play,
Time Stands Still thankfully marches on with director
Daniel Sullivan ensuring it regains its powerful foothold yet again.
With exceptional cast, timely themes and thoughtful balance of love in time of war,
Time Stands Still ranks as one of Broadway's best new plays this season.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: Alicia Silverstone, Brian d'Arcy James, Broadway, Donald Margulies, Eric Begosian, Laura Linney, Play, The SOB Review, Time Stands Still
Time Marches On BroadwayTalk about not standing still in efforts toward gaining a Broadway berth.
Not even a year after its
world premiere at Los Angeles'
Geffen Playhouse,
Donald Margulies'
Time Stands Still opens Thursday evening at
Manhattan Theatre Club's
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
As on the Left Coast, this
Time Stands Still is once again helmed by Tony Award-winning director
Daniel Sullivan and features
Alicia Silverstone. But this incarnation of Margulies' play replaces
Anna Gunn,
David Harbour and
Robin Thomas with
Laura Linney,
Brian d'Arcy James and
Eric Bogosian, respectively.
Manhattan Theatre Club describes
Time Stands Still as follows:
James and Sarah, a journalist and a photographer, have been together for nine years and share a passion for documenting the realities of war. But when injuries force them to return home to New York, the adventurous couple confronts the prospect of a more conventional life. This timely and intelligent play marks the fourth collaboration for Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies and Tony Award-winning director Daniel Sullivan.
The play enjoyed some raves during its earlier California engagement. Will
Time Stands Still stand tall among Broadway critics? I'll be providing my own SOB Review shortly.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.Labels: Alicia Silverstone, Brian d'Arcy James, Broadway, Donald Margulies, Eric Begosian, Laura Linney, Play, Time Stands Still
